Cementing head



Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES CEMENTING HEAD Domer Scaramucci,Oklahoma City, Okla., assign- .or to Oil Equipment EngineeringCorporation, Oklahoma City, Okla., a corporation of Oklahoma ApplicationOctober 28, 1939, Serial No. 301,823

8 Claims., (Cl. 166-1) The present invention pertains to cementing headsfor attachment to the upper end of a string of well casing to facilitatea cementing operation.

The most common cementing method in use today is known as the Perkinsprocess and involves forcing a cement slurry down through the wellcasing between two spaced plug members which serve to preventcontamination of the slurry by the drilling or circulating fluid presentin the casing below the cement and pumped thereinto above the uppermostcementing plug. Owing to the great depth of wells of this nature and tothe inherent characteristics of the cement, it is essential that thecement slurry be pumped into position adjacent the foot of the well inthe least time possible. If the cementing head is arranged toaccommodate the upper cementing plug during the pumping of the cementslurry into the casing, considerable time can be saved in applying saidupper plug to the top of the cement.

Primarily,. the object of this invention is to provide a cementing headhaving streamlined compactness in order to facilitate the fastening andhandling of the elevators, which suspend the string of well casing, byeliminating all connections ordinarily projecting laterally of thecementing head and hampering use of the elevators. A further importantobject of the invention resides in the provision of a cementing headhaving a manifold arrangement of fluid connections which will permitcement to be pumped into the well casing and followed immediately withthe circulating fluid so as to avoid interruptions or delay incidentalto making the necessary pipe connections.

By combining with a cementing head having novel manifold connections afurther connection for receiving a measuring line, which is gmployed todetermine the position of the upper cementing plug within the casing, anadditional useful object of this invention is attained.

Other novel features of improvement contributing to the efliciency ofthe cementing operation and the handling of the well casing string willbe apparent and readily understood from reading the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment of the invention in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical, frontelevation of a complete cementing head assembly, showing certain of theparts in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical side elevation of the cementing head assembly ofFig. 1; and

end of the head l0 somewhat off center from .1

a vertically extending and axially arranged measuring line connectionl4. v

It will be noted that the head l0 comprises an inner head member IS inwhich an upper cementing plug P of ordinary form may be, loose- I lyfitted. A domed, outer, or jacket-forming head member I8 surrounds theinner head It so as to provide an annular space 20, the'bottom of whichis closed by the inwardly extending edge 22 of the outer head I8, whichedge is suitably 20 secured so as to provide a fluid-tight connection.

Above the bottom edge 22 and supporting the lower end of the uppercementing plug P is a plug release plunger 24 sliding within a packing25 assembly or gland 26 mounted in one sideof the lower portion of theouter head l8. The inner head It is provided with opposite openings 28and 30 in alignment with the passage through the packing assembly 26 forsupporting the 30 plunger 24 loosely across the inner head member I6.Only the end of the plunger 24 adjacent the packing assembly 26 extendsthrough the outer head l8.

In Fig. 1, it will be seen that the lower end portion 32 of the upwardlyextending measuring line connection l4 projects centrally through theupper ends of the outer head l8 and inner head I6. A gate valve 34 isattached to the outer end of the measuring line connection l4 so as toreceive the measuring line and its stufiing box (neither of which isshown).

Attention is next directed to an inverted T connection 36 forming a partof the manifold I2. From the left-hand end of the connection 36, asviewed in Fig. 1, a fluid connection 38 extends outwardly and downwardlythrough the outer head I8 and the inner head l6 so that its open, lowerend 40 communicates with the space within the inner head It above theplug P. Intermediate the T connection 36 and-the lower open end 40, thecement connection or branch 38 is provided with a gate valve 42.

A similar righthand connection 44 leads from the opposite end of the Tmember or connecball 6d within the valve 52.

manifold I2 and its various fluid connections have approximately thesame overall diameter as the head It.

To provide communication between the jacket space 20 fed by thecirculating fluid connection and the portion of the inner head below thecementing plug P, a plurality of relatively large openings 50 (only oneof which is shown) extend through the inner head member l6 just abovethe bottom closing edge 22 of the outer head member it.

The intermediate or upwardly extending leg of the T connection 36 isjoined to a double check valve 52 by means of a short conduit 54, in themanner illustrated best in Fig. 1. At one end of the check valve 52 acement truck connection 5B is provided, and at the opposite end asimilar connection 58 serves to supply circulating fluid from a slushpump. ihe inner ends of the connections 56 and 58 are formed anddisposed to constitute opposed seats 60 and 62 respectively for optionalcooperation with a check Other forms and arrangements of double checkvalves which are conventional in nature may obviously replace the balltype 52.

The operation of the cementing head, the parts of which have beendescribed in detail is as follows: After attachment to the well casingWC of the head in with the upper cementing plug P included in the mannerillustrated, and with the valve 48 open and the valves 34 and 42 closed,cement slurry will be pumped in through the valve connection 56displacing the check ball 64 to the right of Fig. 1 into a closingposition on the seat 62 of the circulating fluid connection 58. Fr m thelower end portion 46 of the manifold connection 44, the slurry willdischarge into the annular space 20 provided by the jacketed headconstruction and downwardly through the openings 5|] into the head andcasing below the plug P. This by-pass of cement slurry'will continueuntil a suflicient quantity has been pumped into the well casing WC.Then, and without appreciable delay, the supplying of cement slurry willbe discontinued,.

the valve 48 in the cement line connection 44 will be closed, the valve42 opened,. and the check ball 64 forced to the left into engagementwith the seat 60 as circulating fluid is forced through the check valve52 from the connection 58. The circulating fluid from the valve 52 W11lpass downwardly through the manifold connection 38 and out the lower endportion 40 thereof. However, previous to the supplying of pressurecirculating fluid in this manner to the inner head member l6 above theplug P, the lat-" ter will have been released for downward movement bylateral withdrawal of the plunger 24. The circulatin fluid supplied willact on the top of the upper cementing plug P to force the 06- ment downthrough the casing, until the operator by use of the measuring linepassing through the connection I4 has determined that the cecombination,

ment has reached its required position, and stops the flow.

In summary, it is observed that the cementing head assembly which thisinvention provides possesses the advantage of having all of itsattachments compactly joined and arranged for eiiicient use, that thearrangement specified is the first which avoids substantial interferencewith"thecasing elevators, andv that, so far as is known, the dispositionof the double check valve on the cementing head rather than on thederrick floor is a distinct advance in the, art. .Since other equivalentmodifications andvanat ons in detail will be prompted by the disclosurewhich has been made, the present invention is to be limited only to thescope and.

spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what-I claim as. new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

. 1. A cementing head assembly which includes spacedinner and outer headmembers connected together so as to provide a space which is closed atthe bottom of the outer head member, said inner head member beingadapted to receive a cementing plug in its upper portion and the spacebeing in fluid communication with the inner head member below theportion which receives the cementing plug; a fluid connection extendingfrom without the outer head and opening into the space; and af'urtherfluid connection leading from outside'the head members to within theinner head abovethe portion adapted to receive the cementin plug.

2. A cementing head assembly which includes spaced inner and buter headmembers connected together so as to provide an annular space which isclosed at the bottom of the outer head member, said inner head memberbeing adapted to receive a cementing plug in its upper portion and theannular space being in fluid communication with the inner head memberbelow the portion which receives the cementing plug; a fluid connectionextending from without the outer head and opening into the annularspace; a further fluid connection leading from outside the head membersto within the inner head above the portion adapted to receive thecementing plug; and a measuring line connection extending from outsidethe outer head member to within the inner head member.

3. A streamlined cementing head assembly adapted for mounting on a welland having, in an inner domed head member adapted to receive a cementingplug; a similar outer head member spaced from the inner head member toform an annular by-pass for the upper portion of said inner head memberand having its bottom edge connected to the inner head menrber in afluid-tight manner, said bypass being in fluid communication with theinner head member below the portion adapted to re-- ceive the plug; aflrst fluid connection opening into the space formed between the headmembers; a second fluid connection opening into the inner head memberabove the portion occupied by the cementing plug; and double check valvemeans operatively connected to the first and second fluid connectionsadjacent the head members for controlling the flow thereto alternatelyof cement and circulating fluid respectively.

4. A cementing head. assembly comprising an innerhead member adapted toreceive a cementing plug; an outer head member spaced from the innerhead member to form a by-pass for the upper portion of said inner headmember; means for retaining a cementing plug temporarily in said upperportion of the inner head member, said by-pass being in fluidcommunication with the inner head member below the portion adapted toreceive the plug; a fluid manifold extending above and overlying bothhead members, said manifold having one connection opening into the spaceformed between the head members and another connection opening into theinner head member above the position occupied by the cementing plug; andvalve means directly connected to the manifold and also over,- lying thehead members arranged to permit the optional flow from two difl'erentfluid sources into one or the other of the manifold connections to thehead members.

5. A streamlined cementing head assembly comprising an inner head memberadapted to receive a cementing plug; an outer head member spaced fromthe inner head member to form a by-pass for the upper portion of saidinner head member; means for retaining a cementing plug temporarily insaid upper portion of the inner head member, said by-pass being in fluidcommunication with the inner head member below the portion adapted toreceive the plug; a fluid manifold extending above and overlying bothhead members, said manifold having one valved fluid connection openinginto the space formed between the head members and another valved fluidconnection opening into the inner head member above the positionoccupied by the cementing plug; and double check valve means alsooverlying the head members and arranged to permit the optional flow fromtwo different fluid sources into one or the other of the manifoldconnections leading to the head members.

6. A streamlined cementing head assembly comprising an inner head memberadapted to receive a cementing plug; an outer head member spaced fromthe inner head member to form a by-pass jacket for the upper portion ofsaid inner head member; a plunger slidably supported by both headmembers for retaining a cementing plug temporarily in said upper portionof the inner head member, said by-pass being in fluid communication withthe inner head member below the portion adapted to receive the plug; afluid manifold extending above and overlying both head members, saidmanifold having one fluid connection opening into the space formedbetween the head member and another fluid connection communicating withthe inner head member above the position occupied by the ocmenting plug;and double check valve means also overlying the head members andarranged to permit the optional flow from two different fluid sourcesinto one or the other of the manifold connections to the head members,the overall diameter of the manifold and check valve means beingapproximately that of the outer head member.

7. A streamlined cementing head assembly comprising an inner head memberadapted to receive a cementing'plug; an outer head member spaced fromthe inner head member to form a by-pass for the upper portion of saidinner head member; means for retaining a cementing plug temporarily insaid upper portion of the inner head member, said by-pass being in fluidcommunication with the inner head member below the portion adapted toreceive the plug; a fluid manifold extending above and overlying bothhead members, said manifold having one valved fluid connection openinginto the space formed between the head members and another valved fluidconnection opening into the inner head member above the positionoccupied by the cementing plug; double check valve means also overlyingthe head members and arranged to permit the optional flow from twodifferent fluid sources into one or the other of themanifold conduitsleading to the head members; and a centrally disposed, upwardlyextending measuring line connection passing through the upper endportions of both head members.

8. A streamlined cementing head assembly comprising an inner head memberadapted to receive a cementing plug; an outer head member spaced fromthe inner head member to form a by-pass for the upper portion of saidinner head member; means for retaining a cementing plug temporarily insaid upper portion of the inner head member, said by-pass being in fluidcommunication with the inner head member below the portion adapted toreceive the plug; a fluid manifold extending above and overlying bothhead members, said manifold having a first fluid connection opening intothe space formed between the head members and a second fluid connectionopening into the inner head member above the position occupied by thecementing plug; a valve intermediate the flrst fluid connection forclosing the same; a valve intermediate the second fluid-connection forclosing the same; double check valve means also overlying the headmembers and arranged to permit the optional flow from two diflerentfluid sources into one or the other of the manifold conduits leadin tothe head members; a centrally disposed measuring line connectionextending above the outer head member; and a further valve for closingthe measuring line connection, the fluid connec-' tion and measuringline valves each having in-- dependent operating means which are closelyadiacent in parallel planes;

DOMER. SCARAMUCCI.

